A daughter sexually abused by her own mother when she was just seven-years-old today called for more help to stop paedophiles ruining children’s lives.

Waiving her anonymity, Kelly Whitfield told of the devastating impact the child abuse has had on her life and demanded more is done to support young children, who she calls the “forgotten victims”.

The 42-year-old was left suffering in silence throughout her childhood as she tried to deal with the abuse - and the fact her mum allowed it to happen.

Kelly, of Washington, said: “I’m coming to terms with the abuse now but I don’t know if I’ll ever come to terms with the abuser being my mum.”

Kelly said recent high profile sex abuse trials including that of Rolf Harris have only strengthened her resolve to speak out in the hope that fewer children have to suffer in silence.

Kelly’s mother, Martha Owens, 63, admitted four charges of indecent assault when she was arrested in 2012. Her stepfather, Frederick Dixon, denied the allegations and killed himself on New Year’s Eve 2012.

Last year, Newcastle Crown Court heard how Owens stripped Kelly, then just a schoolgirl, naked and watched on as Dixon sexually assaulted her.

Kelly said: “When all of this was happening to me my mam kept telling me it was ok, they both did.

“I was a child, I didn’t know what was happening. It was only as I got older that I realised this wasn’t right, that it wasn’t happening to other people.”

Recent allegations of child abuse involving former MPs at Westminster in the 80s as well as high profile celebrity trials has brought back painful memories for Kelly.

She said: “All too often the emphasis is on the abuser and the victims are forgotten about.

“They are children and they need help and support because they often don’t understand what’s happening to them - how could they?

“My mother got a nine-month suspended sentence for what she did. I got a life sentence.”

Kelly believes more education is needed and more support offered at an early stage to those young people affected.”

Her calls come after Children’s Commissioner Maggie Atkinson, former Gateshead Council’s director of Children’s Services, launched a national inquiry into sexual abuse. The two year probe will look specifically at sexual abuse within the family environment.

She said: “Most of our children are raised in secure, loving homes but I’m sure many of us will be disturbed by how much abuse within the family goes unreported and how little is done to support the children who suffer.

It was only after years of counselling that Kelly felt able to speak out over what had happened in her family.

Newcastle Crown Court was told Owens did not carry out the offences for her own sexual gratification, but a desire “not to cross” Dixon.